[Discuss-gnuradio] SDR Forum Readies FCC Briefing

From:

Steve Schear

Subject:

[Discuss-gnuradio] SDR Forum Readies FCC Briefing

Date:

Tue, 26 Feb 2002 08:36:09 -0800

SDR Forum Readies FCC Briefing
Summary:

The Software Defined Radio Forum, an international association, is
preparing a report for the FCC to address security and authentication
issues involving Software Defined Radio (SDR), a new generation of wireless
devices re-configurable by software. The report will examine such issues as
the development and deployment of software security-related technologies,
security initiatives in Special Interests Groups, and activities of
standards bodies organizations. The FCC adopted its first rules on SDR
technology in September 2001 -- the Software Defined Radio First Report and
Order -- to encourage the adoption of the technology and to give
manufacturers easier access to the commercial marketplace.

Full Article:

ROME, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 6, 2002--The Software Defined Radio
Forum, an international wireless industry association, is preparing a
report for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address security
and authentication issues involving Software Defined Radio (SDR); a new
generation of wireless devices that are re-configurable by software.

This report is one element of the SDR Forum's 2002 work plan. In the coming
year, the Forum will produce a series of recommendations that address, on
an internationally coordinated basis, aspects of SDR download and field
re-configuration including security, authentication and validation issues.

The issue of software security spans the breadth and depth of industry
today from financial institutions providing secure transactions; to the
security measures of enterprises and institutions against network damaging
viruses and denial of service attacks; to the entertainment industry
protecting against piracy of valuable music and video content.

Recognizing this, the SDR Forum -- which includes more than 100 member
companies -- has begun surveying a broad range of organizations worldwide
to obtain input and recommendations for its first mid-year report on
security and authentication. The report will examine issues including:

The development and deployment of software security related technologies
including dynamic security algorithms, mechanisms, and technologies;
authentication technology including biometric devices and Digital Rights
Management for valuable content protection;

The FCC adopted its first rules on SDR technology last September -- the
Software Defined Radio First Report and Order -- to encourage the adoption
of the technology and give manufacturers easier access to the commercial
marketplace. Today, SDR devices are growing in popularity in large part
because their functions are controlled by software, which means they can be
upgraded by simple software changes, rather than more costly and time
consuming changes to the hardware circuitry.

The ability to easily change SDR devices' operating parameters through
software upgrades, however, brings with it new challenges in security and
authentication. The FCC made clear its view that it is critical ``to ensure
that software changes cannot be made to a radio that will cause it to
operate with parameters outside of those that were approved in order to
prevent interference to authorized radio services.''

The FCC accepted the argument of the Forum, however, that it would be
unwise to set specific security or authentication requirements. As it has
considered Software Defined Radio issues, the FCC has consistently looked
to the SDR Forum for relevant technological expertise on a variety of
issues including security and authentication. The FCC noted that ``the SDR
Forum has indicated that it is continuing to develop methods for the
security and authentication of radio software and that it will report its
findings to the Commission.''

About SDR Technology

In SDR, functions traditionally performed by hardware via analog circuits,
such as the generation of the transmitted radio signal and the tuning and
detection of the received radio signal, instead are performed by software
residing in high-speed digital processors. Because these functions are
carried out in software, the radio can be easily programmed to transmit and
receive over a wide range of frequencies using a variety of transmission
formats used around the world. In addition, the operating parameters of
software defined radio can be easily changed in the field by a simple
software change.

SDR provides an efficient and comparatively inexpensive mechanism for the
design and implementation of multi-mode, multi-band, multi-functional
wireless devices that can be enhanced using software upgrades, thus
addressing many of the most challenging issues confronting the wireless
industry. Future applications of the technology could include:

Cell phones that can be used on a variety of networks, frequency bands and
applications;

Public safety communication devices that can communicate with any number of
separate agencies on the specific bands assigned to each.

Universal handsets that can communicate over a commercial network in the
field, a LAN in the home, and via a short-range Bluetooth network to
various peripherals.

About the Software Defined Radio Forum

The Software Defined Radio Forum is an international industry association
dedicated to supporting the development and deployment of software defined
radio systems that enable flexible and adaptable architectures in advanced
wireless systems. The membership of the SDR Forum spans commercial,
defense, and civil government organizations, and includes wireless service
providers, network operators, component and equipment manufacturers,
hardware and software developers, regulatory agencies, and academia.
Presently numbering more than 100 organizations, the SDR Forum's membership
includes major commercial wireless players from Asia, Europe, and North
America. The SDR Forum's administrative office is headquartered in Rome,
N.Y. Additional information is available on the SDR Forum Web site at
http://www.sdrforum.org.